Package caser



Dec. 26, 1961 J. l.. LAWRENCE ET AL 3,014,599

PACKAGE CASER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July l2, 1957 ORS JOSEPH .INZWRENCE FREoER/CK J LAWRENCE By i A 7' TORNEVS Dec. 26, 1961 J. 1 LAWRENCE ET AL 3,014,599

PACKAGE cAsER Filed July l2, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y INVENT RS JSEPH L. LAW ENCE FREDER/CK J LAWRENCE @y MEM Dec. 26, 1961 J. 1 LAWRENCE ETAL 3,014,599

PACKAGE: CASER Filed July l2, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A INVENTORS JOSEPH L. LAWRENCE FREDER/CK J LAWRENCE ATTORNEYS Dec. 26, 1961 J. l.. LAWRENCE ET AL 3,014,599

PACKAGE cAsER Filed July 12, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent C) 014599.?v e PACKAGE;

Joseph L..Lawrenceantl 'lhdericlr J.- Lawre'nee,f SanFranciscog: Calif., vassignors -to King'Sle's '& Engineering :.Co.; SawFrancisc-Calif; v

Filed Juiy.1,z,v1957, seam). 671,488

z claims. (61.214-6) The present invention' 'relates to casersfor packages or cartns'of the"type" normallyuse'd 'in' packing foods,l and cocrnedniore prticulrly'witli an` improved caser of th'above'type' forassembling the cartons as'a layer and niotfing'thelay'er into a case.

It'isa general object ofthe 'inventio'nto provide an improved caser foi''packagesox' cartons.

Another object of the invention is to providea caser of' the above type in which' the caser 'is adjustable to accommodate diierent sizesand numbers of packages or cartons in a case. v A' further object of the' invention is to provide a caser of the above type in which 'an advantageous pusher construction is provided for'moving the assembled layer from its assembly station into a case.

A still further object of the`invention is to provide a caser of th'e" above type in which advantageous interlocking controls are provided to prevent 'operation of the machine' when conditions are not proper for operation, such as for example, an'incomplete layer of cartons, or the absenceof a case to receive the cartons.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention 'will be apparent'from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawiugS, in which:

FIGURE l is a'side elevational view of a caser embodying thev invention, with certain parts broken away for clarit'yv'of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of the upper right hand portion of FIGURE 1, but showing the assembling stationand associated parts in section;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

. FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showingthe condition of the parts after filling of vacase with packages;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view taken asl indicated bythe line 5-5 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is -a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the drive mechanism, the view being taken as indicated byrthe line 6-6 in FIGURE-1; and

FIGURE 7 is'a schematic-wiring diagram.

'I-'hev caser of the instant invention' as illustrated as employed with rectangular packages or cartons of frozen food as received continuously or intermittently from a freezing line, or other source of' supplyfwhich are tov be placed in a casefor storage 'or shipment. The cartons or packages are-assembled in a layer of approximately the properdimensions for insertion in acase vand are translated or movedas a layer to enter the case,.preferably certain controls' or interlocks beingv provided-sothat no translation of the layer can -be effected when the layer is incomplete insofar 'as-any of the packagessor cartons is' concerned. Also, an interlocking control is providedy so'thatthelayer will not be translated unless-a case-'is-in position to receive its chai-'ge of packages.

Referring to' FIGURES 1', 2 and 4the caser includes la fabricated framev 20 which adjacent itsvup'per edge provides a-'support track" 21 l.for a vpairof adjacent parallel package conveyors-22' which' are trained about suitableidler drums23 anddrive drums 24. Each conveyorI 22 is o`f a-width to-a'ccommodate orie'packagef26. The drive drums 24 for the conveyors' 22 is driven constantly' through suitable chain and sprocket.drive'connections27 and 28 ICC 2: and'abelt and pulley' combination 29,'. from a driving motor 30'carred on the'frame' 20.

The two rows of cartons 26 'are fedin end-to-end'fa'sh on'from' the conveyors 22 onto'two parallel tracks'formed byassoci'ate'd yieldable' supports or track members'33 provided between spaced-apartside rails 31 (FIGURES Zand 3), which' are' mounted on rails 34,' 35' and 36;' The yiel'dable track members- 33, as seen'inFIGURE 3." are pivotally mounted in respective support rails 34,35 and' 36,' and are urged vby' suitable'resilient'means (not shown) to a horizontal position', being yieldable'dwm wardly' to pass the packages therebetween. The outer ra'il"s'3f4"anlv 35 are' carried' by a 'pair of'adjusting'rods 37 (FIGURES 2 and 3) which are journaled inthe cen: ter support rail 36' and have threaded engagement with respective outer rail supports 34 and- 35' by respective right an'd left hand threaded'portions thereof.' By' oper= ating' the handle 38'on one of the support'shafts 37,' these 'shafts can' be rotated to vary the spacing 'between the side rails 31 of the trackv and thereby accommodate the'equipment to different package'dimcnsions.

It will be noted that the cartons after leaving the'com veyor 2'2" are pushed frictionally along the supporting track' members 33, so that, if there is no followingcarton' to push them, a' carton once'placed on' th'e'mem'bers 33' will remain in its initial position until pushed fr'onv this position by a succeeding' carton. In' this'way, th'ejassem'# bly station fora layer of cartons provided' by tliegtrack members' 33 will not -be filled unless thereis atfampl'e'sup?v ply oflcartons. A

Means is provided responsive to the presenceorabJ sence of' a' full layer of cartons at the` assembly 'station for interrupting or disabling the drive for-feeding a layer of cartons if the layer is incomplete. This'means 'takes the form of a pair of switches 41 (FIGURES 2,' 4'an'd 5)' which'are normally conditioned'to prevent'eoperaticn' of thelay'er feed unless'the respective'contrpl'buttons'42 are'p'ressed tov the right as viewed in'FIGUREby're spective floating rods' 43'slidably journaled'in'afmountiug' bracket 44" for the switches 41 on a panel mounting bracket 46s'uitably secured o'n'the frame' ofthe'machne'. These'b'ating rods 43 abut respective"` palwls47 pivoted at 48 on the' bracket: 46 and having their'rounded ends disposed' in lthe path of'the resp'ectis'e` rows oion'coming cartons; The switches 41h-1 a'vcontrol circuit for'thc' carton ltranslating means 'or-pusher member'are described later.

Means is provided for translating asa layer'thelayer of `six packages on the track members 33 and this'rneans takes 'the formfof a pair of AU-sha'ped pusher'rnembiers' 51, each-supported by a pair of rods 52'from'a vertically. reciprocable frame 53. Each frame 53'is carried" by a' p'airgofrods 54having threaded engagement in'respectiveV bosses `55 of Aan operating' slide 56 having' vertically spacedrollel's 57 engaging-in a track S8' on' the? frame 2U. The voperating slides 56am connected'by'a'spacer ban `60' a'nclv eachv slide' has' a' pair of elongated' hori'zoritalI s lot's 59f engaged by respective' rollers 61' on respective ch'a'ir'is"62,` each chain 62 -being carried by a'paii'"'o'f' sprockets 63` ori'respective shafts 64; The vertical'sup' p'ertrodsi'o'r shafts-54 carry at theirupper' endsrespe tive sprocket' wheels -66 connected by 'a chain-65 for'sirnuk raucous-rotation, and'one offthe'sprocket wheelscarries a-"shaft" extension having an operatinghandle 6,7. B'y adjustmentof these' shafts 54,- tle spacing' ofthe'pnsh'er' members 51' from' their operating `slide '56; can be'variedi in-`accordnce with the'thickx'nass'ofVA cartons to'be1 placed'l in; a case.

A The translating means including the' pusli'er'm'embersl 517v and the' drive means-therefor including'chains' 62 and th'e'- sprocket 63, are operable' cyclically to' move the: pusher members 'from their upper home position' asshown in FIGRE 1; toA their lower extended position as shown ifi FIGURES 2,'and`4. The cyclic'driveis'provided' bya magnetic clutch 81 and a magnetic brake 82, as seen 1n FIGURES 1 and 6, which are of a conventional construetion, the magnetic brake 82 serving to arrest' motion when the drive from the clutch 81 is disabled. As seen in FIGURE l, intermediate the clutch 81 and the brake 82 a driven sprocket 83 is provided which is connected by a vchain 84 to a driven sprocket 86 on a countershaft 87 which drives the chains 62 through a chain 88 'engag ing respective sprockets (not shown) on two of the shafts 64.

' The magnetic clutches 81 and 82 are controlled in a conventional manner to provide a cyclic drive for the pusher members 51. The cyclic control means for the drive chains 62 is in the form of a spur gear71 on one of the shafts 64 and meshing with a spur gear 72 carried by a control shaft 73 journaled in the frame 20. This shaft 73 carries a pair of control cams 74 of conventional type to operate the plungers 76 of a pair of switches 77 and 78 which are connected respectively to control a magnetic clutch 81 and a magnetic brake 82 and maintain the control for a full cycle. v

A packing chute is provided below the assembly station to guide the layer of packages into a case at the end of the chute and to place these packages in the proper spacing for insertion into the case. This assembly chute takes the form of respective end plates 91 extending between the frame plates 92, and respective side plates 93 -detachably secured by bolts 94to the respective side plates 92 and extending downwardly and inwardly to provide a form with the plates 91 for insertion of a case 95 thereover. guide strips 96 depend from the adjustable supports 34 and resilient inner guide strips 97 depend from the inner support 36 to yieldably hold a layer of cartons pushed therebetween, the cartons being gradually converged into the proper rectangular spacing for entry into the case 95.

Means is provided for holding and presenting a case tov-the bottom of the carton chute, this carton holding and presenting means-being operated intermittently andin synchronism with the pusher member 51. As seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, a case supporting plate 101 is secured at the end of an arm 102 made up 0f a pair of parallel strips pivotally mounted at 103 on the frame. Intermediate its ends vthe arm 102 is connected by a lift link l104 to a lift arm 105 secured on a shaft 106. The lift link 104 is pivotally connected to the lift arm 105, and is provided with a lost motion connection with the arm 102, being slidably received in this arm 102 andv having an abutment 104a beneath the arm. The shaft 106 also carries a sprocket 107 which is driven through a chain S from a suitable sprocket on the shaft 87, the

, the brake switch 78 for the magnetic brake 82.

cannot be operated unless all of the switches are suitably conditioned; Referring to FIGURE- 7, there" is shown 'a schematic wiring diagram of the relation of the various switches, each of the switches 41 and 122 having two sets of contacts, one set 41a andone set 122a being normally open and another set 4111 and 122b -being normally closed. By reference toFIGURE. 7 it willbe seen that 1thecontacts-122a, '41a and 41a are in series with=each other and are placed in parallel with the clutch switch 77'- for the magnetic clutch '81"1 vAlso it will be seen that the switches 41b, 41b and 122b are placed in parallel in the brake circuit and this parallel relation is in series with As a result, once the three switches 122a,"'41a and 41a are closed to start operation of the clutch, the clutch driven parts operate to close the clutch switch 77 and to maintain the clutch energized for the full cycle irrespective of opening of one Aor more of the switches 41a, 41a

' and 122e.

Referring to FIGURE 3, resilient side gear ratio being such that the lift arm 105 and the ylift link 104 are operated through a complete cycle for each operation of the pusher mechanism, every other cycle being inactive as will now be described.

A yieldable latch is provided for the case holding and presentingI means, which is released under control of the pusher' members 51. For this purpose the, arm 102 (FIGURE l) carries a pin 111 which engages a seat 112 at'the upper end of a latch arm 113 pivotally mounted4 on the frame at 114. A spring -116 urges the latch arm 113 into the position shown in FIGURE 2 wherethe case 95 is heldin its upper position. The insertion of the last layer of cartons into a case moves thecase-supportf: ing arm '102 to effect release of the latch arm 113. The case holding plate 101 is adapted in its lower-most position shown in dotted lines in FIGURES 1 and 6to pass between and vbelowltwo case discharge conveyors 126.

One of these conveyors being driven through a belt 127 from the control shaft 128.

In the upper position of the 'case 95 it engages closes a contact arm'121 of a switch 122 which vis placedvv inlserieswith-the switches 41 'so that the pusher drive-1.

Also, it will be seen that the brake circuit will be maintained in the condition shown in FIGURE 7 as long as any one of the lswitches 41b and 122b remains closed, and that all threeof these switches must be open to inactivate the magnetic brake -82. However, once the cycle of operation is started, the brake switch 78 is open so that subsequent closing of the switches 41b and 1221 will have no elect on the cycle in process, but these switches will close to take eiect at the end of the cycle when the holding switch 78 again closes.

In operation, assuming the machine to be properly adjusted for the number of layers of cartons to a'case by adjusting the 'screw supports 54, and to the width of packages in a case by adjusting the 'horizontal screw lsupport shafts 37, and assuming a case'to be placed on the carton chute so as to close the switch 122, the operation will proceed as follows:

The cartons are. coming down the two parallel conveyors 22 andare discharged therefrom onto the support tracks 33 for frictional feeding funtil a complete layer of cartons is assembled at the carton assembling station, and the two endmost cartons have closed the respective switches 41. At this time the circuit for the clutch 81 is completed and the circuit 'for the brake 82 is interrupted so that one cycle of operation begins and the clutch 81 is maintained operating through the cycle by closing of the clutch switch 77 during this one-cycle drive of the pusher mechanism the -pusher slides 56 start descending to move the pushers 51 downwardly for the depth of one carton, and at this time the switches 41 again become open because of the absence of cartons at the carton assembly station. During this downward pushing movement the extensions 51a of the pusher members 51 hold the oncoming cartons from the assembling station. Also during this first cycle of movement of the pusher members 51, the lift crank 105 and the lift link 104 perform an idle movement because of the lost motion connection between the lift link 104 and the case support arm 102.

When the pusher members 51 recede or move upwardly, the cartons are again free to enter onto the support track 33 and complete the assembly of -another layer and thus initiate another cycle of the carton-translatingor pusher means, and this cycle will be effective to move the second layer of cartons -into .the case, and 4as this is done, the case holder arm v102 is pushed free of its latch arm 113 and can move downwardly to deposit the case on the conveyor 126 fordischarge from the equipment. This second cycle of operation in eiect moves the case sup` porting arm 102 and :the case 95 from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to -that shown in FIGURE 4, and the case and its contents will descend'as rapidly as permitted by the link 104, and when the case 95 isengaged with the' conveyor 126 it will be rapidly discharged-from the equipment, and leave the case supporting or holding arm 102 free to be lifted by the lift link 104 and the lift crank 102v to the position shown in FIGURE l.

.While we have, shownanddescribed a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that the invention is capable of variation and moditication of the form shown so that the scope thereof should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. In a caser for cartons of goods having a frame, means for assembly cartons in a horizontal layer at a layer assembly station on said frame, and also having carton receiving means disposed below said station, carton translating means disposed above said station including a pusher member for engaging the layer of cartons, a drive slide member connected to said pusher member, said drive slide member being mounted for vertical movement by means including a pair of rollers thereon and a vertically extending track on said frame and engaged by said rollers, said drive slide member having a pair of horizontally extending slots therein, respective pairs of vertically spaced sprockets on said frame and disposed in the region of said drive slide, chain means engaged with each sprocket, and roller means carried by each chain means and engaging one of said horizontal slots and said References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,364,562 Laughton Ian. 4, 1921 2,350,560 Kimball June 6, 1944 2,593,470 Matthews et al Apr. 22, 1952 2,651,896 Woodrul et al. Sept. 15, 1953 2,760,316 Okulitch et al Aug. 28, 1956 2,909,016 Sherrill Oct. 20, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT. oEEICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,014,599 December 26, 1961 Joseph L Lawrence et. al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, line 7, for "assembly" read assembling Signed and sealed this 24th day of April 1962.

SEA L) Attest:

DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents ESTON G. JOHNSON Attesting Officer 

